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Brain development study links autism and schizophrenia to pregnancy
Prenatal DNA changes provide clues to neurodevelopmental conditions
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Thursday 1st January 2026 |
Research from the University of Exeter suggests that the origins of autism and schizophrenia may lie in the earliest stages of brain development.
By examining nearly 1,000 human brains, scientists created a detailed map of DNA methylation-chemical "tags" that switch genes on or off-from six weeks after conception to 108 years of age.
The study found that the vast majority of these epigenetic changes occur before birth.
Significant "switch points" were identified between 12 and 15 weeks of gestation, a period critical for forming synapses and neuron projections.
Crucially, genes associated with autism and schizophrenia risks showed dynamic activity during this prenatal window.
Researchers discovered that neurons possess specific chemical marks long before they fully mature.
These findings highlight the prenatal period as a vital phase in shaping the cortex, the area responsible for memory and behaviour.
This reference map helps people understand how genetic risks interact with early development, potentially explaining why these conditions develop long before symptoms appear.
Source: Technology Networks (UK)
https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/
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